Cousin's in Time: Part III

Ch 7

September 4, 1885

10:45 a.m.

Annie's POV

I watched as Doc poured purple liquid into the front of the car. Marty was trying desperately to start it.

He told Doc, "Bartender said that's the strongest stuff they got."

I got a whiff of it, plugged my nose, and responded, jokingly, "I'll say."

Doc urged, "Try it, Marty."

Marty tried to start it. But instead of the engine a bubbling noise came from the back of the car. There was a loud boom and a metal piece of the car came flying out.

Doc groaned, "It blew the fuel injection manifold. Strong stuff all right. It'll take me a month to rebuild it."

I moaned and pointed out the oblivious, "A month? Doc, you're going to get shot on Monday!"

Doc started to think aloud, "I know, Annie! I know! I wish...wait. I've got it! We can roll it down a steep hill...no, we'd never find a smooth enough surface. Unless...of course...ice. We can wait until winter...when the lake freezes over..."

Marty pointed out, "Winter! Doc, Monday! It's three days away!"

Doc stopped for a second and responded, "Okay, let's think this through logically. We know it can't run on its own power, and we know we can't pull it. But, if we can figure out a way to push it up to 88 MPH...huh?"

We heard a whistle in the distance and I said, an idea forming in my head and in Docs', "Did you say 'push' it?"

We went to the train station that afternoon.

I turned to Marty and said, "You know, this is the first time I actually saw a train." Marty shot me a look and I added, "Model trains don't count."

Doc went over to the engineer and the engineer repeated, "How fast can it go? Why, I've powered her up to 55 myself. I hear that fearless Frank Fargo got one of these up to near 70 out past Verde Junction."

Doc asked, "Can it be possible to get it up to 90?"

The engineer shot him a look and responded, "90? Tarnations, why would anyone would be in such a hurry?"

Doc explained lying threw his teeth, "Well, it's just a bet he and I have going. Theoretically, could it be done?"

He replied, "Well, I suppose if you had a straight stretch of track with a long level grade, and you weren't hauling no cars behind you...and if you could get the fire hot enough...I mean hotter than the blazes of hell and Tarnations...well yes, you might be able get her up that fast."

Doc asked, "Tell me, when does the next train comes through here?"

The engineer responded, "Monday morning at 8 o'clock."

Doc, Marty, and I went over to a map as Doc explained, "This spur runs off the main line 3 miles down to Clayton Ravine. There's a long stretch of track that will still exist in 1985. This is where we'll push the De Lorean with the locomotive. Funny, this map calls Clayton ravine Shonash Ravine. Must be an old Indian name for it. It's perfect. Nice long run that goes clear across the bridge over the ravine, you know, over near that Hilldale housing development."

Marty pointed to the map and responded, "Right Doc but according this map..."

I finished his sentence, "There is no bridge."

We headed out to the ravine and Marty pointed out, "Well, Doc. We can scratch that idea."

I added, "There is no way we can wait a year and a half for this thing to be finished!"